Interview with Sienna Brown, founder of Las Morenas de España

Where are you based and what’s the best thing about where you live?Originally from New York, I’ve been based in Murcia, Spain for the past three years. There are so many things that I love about this city but I’ll break it down into my top three reasons.

1. There is an overwhelming sense of community and openness that I’ve found in my time here, which has allowed me to make meaningful relationships within both the local and expat communities.

2. Murcia is a region that is filled with an ample amount of breathtaking beaches, valleys and mountain ranges that are all a short drive away from the city center. If you need an escape, you have endless options.

3. The last and maybe most important thing about where I live is the emphasis of slowing down and enjoying life and creating balance. Spending time with friends and family is seen as very important and someone will be happy to remind you that no hay prisa. There’s no need to rush through life.

Where is one place you feel most like yourself?This is a great question! I recently just moved into my own apartment and it’s a complete oasis. Although I love seeing different parts of the world, there is nothing like being at home. In my own space, there’s no need to censor my emotions or actions, which then allows me to be my authentic self without second thoughts. Not to mention, being able to curate and decorate my space with things that have meaning to me, allows for me to constantly be reminded about the life I want to be living.Who or what inspires you?The future. I think that I feel most inspired when thinking about what is to come and then taking the next step to see what I have to do to get there. There’s a quote that says, “She believed she could, so she did.” It’s as simple as that. It’s about honestly believing in what you’re capable of and then putting in the necessary steps to get there.

It’s so inspiring when you stop to look at how far you’ve come in the past 1? 3? 5 years? And then imagine how much further you can go. And, if you aren’t where you want to be right now… that’s even more motivation to start your journey.

How has travel changed you? What growth experiences have you learned from it?
Travel has changed me in so many ways! It has taught me endless lessons about how to best adapt to new situations, keep an open mind and how to truly learn patience. I feel like with each trip that I take, especially if they are solo trips, I learn so much more about myself, what I love, what I can improve and the things that I truly appreciate in this life and the people in it.

Where has travel taken you so far? Where to next?
Ahh, I’ve been blessed to see so many different countries and cultures but more than anything, I’ve been honored to call another country home with intents of truly becoming a part of the community and creating a life here. Travel has opened up endless doors for me and has brought in many opportunities. In the near future, I’ll be traveling a lot within Spain but my next big trip will either be Greece or Croatia. They’ve both been on my list for a while now!

What makes you come alive?
Swimming in the ocean and profound conversations… but not at the same time, although I’d be open to it! For me, the ocean a place that brings me complete peace and it somehow always brings me the reassurance I need.

On the other hand, profound conversations with like-minded people, brings me alive on so many levels. I’m someone who loves to get deep really quickly, because for me it doesn’t matter much what your favorite movie is but I want to know what brings you joy and if you’re on the path to where you truly want to be in life.

What is your creative process like?
My creative process is a lot of trial and error but when I get it right… it’s such a rewarding feeling. Normally, I create my best work early in the morning when my mind is clear. There’s something beautiful about being up before the rest of the world. I light a few candles, drink lemon honey water, put on my favorite playlist and get to work.

I don’t censor myself but instead I let it all out, spilling all of my thoughts, emotions and ideas onto paper then I let it sit for some time and come back to it a few hours or days later to edit with a different state of mind.

Your most rewarding accomplishments to date? Go on #girlboss, Tell us!Without hesitation, my most rewarding accomplishment has been the growth of LMDES! It’s beautiful to see a blog that was once created specifically for woman of color who lacked resources about life in Spain has become something much bigger. We are now an LLC that has reached every single country in the world. It continuously blows my mind that something that was created out of a personal need now reaches and helps hundreds of thousands of people all over the world feel as if their dreams to live a life they love is also possible.

Another accomplishment has been preparing for THRIVE, a conference we’re hosting with the theme of leading a life filled with purpose, no matter where you live. It’s an honor being able to have a platform to bring together thought-leaders and influencers to share meaningful knowledge with expats in Europe.

Aisle or window seat?
Window seat, without a doubt. There is nothing better than being able to gaze out the window, above the rest of the world, that really puts life into perspective and allows for a few moments of gratefulness.

What’s your best advice for aspiring travelers?
My best advice for aspiring travelers would be that if you really want to do something, you should do it. If you’re feeling pulled to travel, do the research, ask the questions, make your plan and get to it. There are so many resources on the Internet, from blogs to Instagram accounts that provide meaningful knowledge to help you get started. Whatever you want to do and wherever you want to go… it can become your reality but you just have to believe it first.

Sienna Brown is the founder of Las Morenas de España. From New York to Murcia, Spain, she is constantly on a journey to inspire and be inspired while engaging in different methods of creation. Living in Spain for the past three years has encouraged her to constantly explore the world, different cultures and herself along the way. See more of her work here and follow her adventures on instagram.

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Nastasia, originally a Labor & Delivery nurse turned travel blogger, has leveraged her passion for travel, photography and has founded Dame Traveler, a curated women’s travel blog where solo female travelers can inspire, and connect with, one another. Her eye for stunning travel visuals has helped build a large Instagram following, with close to 440,000 followers on @dametraveler and 100,000 on her personal account, @nastasiaspassport, in addition to a large network of travel bloggers. Her hard work has led her to be featured in publications such as Travel & Leisure, Fodor’s, Vogue and more.
55+ countries into her journey, her passion for the world has led her to create a sizeable community of female travelers where her mission is to empower them to travel more, do more and be more. Whether sipping on chai in Istanbul or volunteering abroad in South Africa, Nastasia continues to find and share the beauty of this world, thus inspiring people to change the way they see and experience life.